A Moment of Clarity column: Consumerism overtakes tradition

During the years from 1634 to 1638, the Pequot war raged on between the Pequot tribe and an alliance of Massachusetts settlers and colonists from Plymouth and Saybrook.

In 1637, there was a brutal massacre of 500 to 700 Pequot tribesmen by their enemies. Legend has it, that after this display of brutality, the colonists and settlers got together to celebrate and hold a Thanksgiving. (It was common in those days to hold multiple Thanksgivings in a year.) Some will argue that this was the official first Thanksgiving, and that the holiday is a quiet tribute to the massacre of Native Americans. While this is not true, and the first Thanksgiving was rumored to be held around 1621 with Plymouth settlers and their Native American neighbors (some historians place this tradition as early as 1598), what I fear is that the true meaning of this day has been long lost, regardless of where you believe the tradition originated.

Thanksgiving is now simply Black Friday Eve.

A day where in the past, you would at least attempt to give thanks to those important in your life and possibly put your priorities in perspective, has now become a day where you consume mass amounts of carbohydrates, watch football and go to bed early to wake up at 5 a.m. to go shopping ...

Am I the only one who sees something wrong with this?

Furthermore, companies now hold their Black Friday on Thanksgiving. To what depths have corporations sunk to guide the herd of mindless consumers into their stores on a day where at the very least, you are supposed to give thanks to the world around you? So is it safe to call this holiday Black Thanksgiving? Furthermore, again, do those who partake in the tradition of mass consumerism to spend money on crap they don't need consider themselves human beings, or simple-minded consumers?

For those who complain about products not made in America, you sure are contributing to the art of outsourcing by buying a cheap television made in a small crowded factory from any number of countries tjat likely have no idea what Thanksgiving even is. The fundamentals of selflessness, materialism and overindulgence fly right out the window for those who foam at the mouth at the thought of a new GPS system for half the price of cost.

"It's for the children, though." And what better way to raise them than in an environment led by example of just the behaviors that make up this new holiday. Materialism, entitlement, greed, the list goes on.

For those who say the 1637 massacre of Pequot tribesmen is a far stretch for the true meaning of Thanksgiving, I'm going to call out those who see Thanksgiving as nothing more than a large consumption of food before a large consumption of retail bliss. The lines have blurred, and it's becoming more clear that any true priorities and progressive character qualities of our current society are getting put on the back burner for mere toys, gadgets and a concept that breeds nothing to contribute to the human race other than filling up landfills in the near future.

Most holidays are rooted in tradition, mostly Pagan in nature, and many with overtones of something you would see at a college frat party. However, this new tradition of endless consumerism where stores literally are stealing away tradition; or what we have left of it, is a sign more than ever that something is critically wrong with the direction we're headed. Happy Black Thanksgiving, everyone!

Joseph Bachman is a Wisconsin Rapids resident. A Moment of Clarity appears twice a month.

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A Moment of Clarity column: Consumerism overtakes tradition

During the years from 1634 to 1638, the Pequot war raged on between the Pequot tribe and an alliance of Massachusetts settlers and colonists from Plymouth and Saybrook. In 1637, there was a brutal

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